The Ducklings.......

 The ducklings are now 26 days old and growing very swiftly, they are slowly beginning to loose their baby fluffiness.

I noticed yesterday that they are beginning to get their big duck feathers, but they still have a way to go before they are able to take their first flight to Lake Leschenaultia which is not far from the cottage, they have another month to month and a half before they are going to be ready to fly.

They are still arriving each morning slipping under the gate and hanging out all day in the garden, mum and dad leave the ducklings once per day as they fly off for a short while, maybe going to the lake for a bit or simply for a break from the demands of raising five babies, I have actually seen daddy duck nodding off while he stands guard of his brood clearly exhausted.

Little Gaia is also growing fast, the ducks and my chicken family all seem to accept each others babies and are often found feeding together or slumbering under the shrubs.

It has been such a joy to have wild ducklings growing up here, their parents knew that this was a safe haven for their five little babies right from the beginning, they knew that there was fresh food and seed to eat as well as fresh water, everything their ducklings would need, little did they know that a small swimming pool would be brought home for the little ones to swim in, and as yet I have not been able to catch them in the pool, but they are using it each day.

The simple gifts of nature really are the most precious experiences my soul has..........